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John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum
4.7 ★★★★★ 3,195 Google reviews · Running trail in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Boardwalk
- Loop distance
- 10 mi
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Dedicated to preserving the Tinicum Marsh, this refuge offers hiking trails & a visitor center.
What runners say about John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum
“From this visitor centre there are two loops Boardwalk loop and Wetland loop, and both trails are well maintained.”
“A great spot to watch birds, aquatic life, and many other animals and absolutely stunning in all four seasons, particularly at sunrise and especially at sunset.”
This is the first time I’ve ever been to this wildlife refuge. I’ve heard about it over the years, but never visited. It didn’t know what to expect being right in the city, even though it sits on the outskirts down by the airport, I was actually blown away by the Sheer size and beauty of the place, this is a extremely…
Wow just wow, we did not realize there was such a great place for bird watching right next to airport, in past three years we lived in PA. Glad that we were able to locate this place now, better late then never. We visited around 5.
A Fantastic Urban Refuge for Nature Lovers This is a fantastic spot for a day out, offering a surprising escape right in the city. The refuge is a true gem, perfect for hiking, birding, and enjoying nature. With plenty of parking, clean restrooms, and a large picnic pavilion, it's well-equipped for visitors.
This place is absolutely amazing. HUGE trail, I think it’s around 10-15 miles. If you don’t want to walk that far they do have other trails where you can only do 5 or so. Amazing views and photo spots. I can’t believe I’ve lived so close to this hidden gem spot and never found out about it.
Trail conditions & character
“A great spot to watch birds, aquatic life, and many other animals and absolutely stunning in all four seasons, particularly at sunrise and especially at sunset.”
“30 pm and walked until 8 pm watching the different birds , and we were doing very random trails , did not have time complete the whole loop.”
“From this visitor centre there are two loops Boardwalk loop and Wetland loop, and both trails are well maintained.”
“I believe there are public restrooms, sporadically throughout the trail I chose to walk the loop which is about 5 miles.”
“The observation tower provides excellent bird-watching opportunities, and there's a visitor center along with ample parking.”
“I believe there are public restrooms, sporadically throughout the trail I chose to walk the loop which is about 5 miles.”
Plan your run at John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceBoardwalk — flat and scenic, and slick when wet, so watch your footing
- Loop distance10 mi back to where you parked. Long enough for a real long run.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms, water — reported by runners
- Websitefws.gov
- Phone+1 215-365-3118
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 6 am–8 pm |
| Tuesday | 6 am–8 pm |
| Wednesday | 6 am–8 pm |
| Thursday | 6 am–8 pm |
| Friday | 6 am–8 pm |
| Saturday | 6 am–8 pm |
| Sunday | 6 am–8 pm |
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